Chapter 63: Special Attraction

One day, Percy was sitting in the driver house eating breakfast when Toby came in. He was looking very happy.

"The seaside village is having a festival today," he said, "and my engine is to be a special attraction. People will be allowed to climb into the cab, and I can show them how it works."

"Congratulations, Toby," said Percy, "I wish I could go, but I'm needed here."

After a quick breakfast Toby headed out. It would take some time to reach the seaside station, but Toby didn't mind. He enjoyed the ride, and thought about how lovely it would be for people to admire his engine.

"She really is a beautiful piece of machinery," he thought to himself, "It's been quite some time since she's had so many admirers."

After an hour, he finally reached the seaside village. Toby had expected several people to direct him to where he needed to park his engine, but all he saw was a single man, looking sad.

"I'm sorry, Toby," said the man, "But we overbooked for the festival. I'm afraid there's no room for you and your engine. There's nothing I can do."

Toby's smile soon turned into a frown.

"Oh," he sighed, "I see. I suppose I better get going then."

And with that he drove sadly back to the station.

Percy was back at the station waiting for work when Toby came back. Percy could see that something was wrong.

"Is something wrong, Toby?"

Toby told him all about what had happened at the seaside village. Before Percy could say anything, however, Sir Topham Hatt came over.

"Percy, I need you to go to the harbor immediately," he told him, "Bulstrode the barge skipper is causing trouble, and I need you to sort it all out."

Percy was puzzled.

"Who is Bulstrode?" he asked.

"I've heard of him," Toby said, "The quarry company hired him to transport stone to places where our rails can't go with water. He's rude and never stops moaning, and gives everybody he meets a headache."

Percy was not looking forward to meeting him.

Toby was right about Bulstrode. At the harbor, he was getting impatient waiting for his barge to get loaded, and took his anger out on the workmen.

"Why has my barge not been loaded yet?" he snapped, "I thought this railway was supposed to be efficient, but at this rate I'll be here all day."

"We can't load your barge because the trucks aren't in the right place," said a workman, "And we can't move the trucks without an engine. So shut your mouth and be patient."

But Bulstrode continued to groan until Percy arrived.

"The trucks on dock three need to be brought here so that their stone can be loaded into Bulstrode," he thought, "Please bring them here so that we can finally be rid of this menace."

Percy was happy to help, but trouble lay ahead. The rails leading to Bulstrode's dock were slippery, and as Percy shunted the trucks closer he found that he could not stop.

"Oh dear," he thought, "I hope the buffers will stop me."

But the buffers were old, and fell away as the trucks fell of the rails and into the hull of Bulstrode's barge. Fortunately, Percy managed to stop his engine before it fell over as well. Bulstrdoe, however, was not as lucky. He had just enough time to jump before his barge submerged, and was now splashing in the water.

"Help! Help!" he spluttered, "I'm sinking!"

Fortunately, a workman was fast enough and threw him a lifer preserver. Once Bulstrode had grabbed it, the workman pulled him to safety.

It took a long time for the salvage cranes to clean up the mess. Once all the trucks had been cleared, the dock manager inspected the damage.

"I'm afraid that the hull is beyond repair," said the quarry manager, "But I have an idea of what can be done with the wreckage. As for you, Bulstrode, I would like to see you in my office."

Bulstrode gulped. He did not like the sound of that.

Later that evening, Percy came in to the house to see Toby cooking dinner for him and Henrietta.

"I'm sorry that you couldn't be in the festival, Toby," he told him, "I think your tram engine is splendid/

"That's alright, Percy," Toby replied, "Besides, even without people admiring it, I know that it will always be a special attraction."

And with that, Percy joined them for dinner

The barge was towed to the beach and used as a playground for children, never to float again. As for Bulstrode, he was fired from his job and wound up working as a fish seller. That really gave him something to complain about! But it serves him right.